Question

Differentiate between gaseous and particulate pollutants.

Answer 1

Gaseous pollutants: Pollutants produced in the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion and in certain oil and gas activities, causing changes in the air constitution are called gaseous pollutants.

Particulate pollutants: Pollutants that remain suspended in the atmosphere and cause pollution are known as particulate pollutants.

Gaseous Pollutants	Particulate pollutants
Remain in the gaseous state in the atmosphere.	Remain in the solid or liquid state in the atmosphere.
2. These are vapors of some compounds with a boiling point of less than$200°C$.	2. These are in form of large particles that settle down rapidly or remain suspended in the air.
3. For Example- Carbon oxides ($\mathrm{CO}$,${\mathrm{CO}}_2$), Nitrogen oxides (${\mathrm{NO}}_2$,${\mathrm{NO}}_3$), Sulphur oxides (${\mathrm{SO}}_2$,${\mathrm{SO}}_3$), etc.	3. For Example- Aerosols, dust, fumes, ash, smoke, particles of carbon, various metals, etc.